Alex Rodriguez might have to be flexible when he returns to the New York Yankees lineup. The third baseman is set to return to the Yankees lineup in 2015 after his season long suspension in 2014. Rodriguez figured to slide back into the vacant third base position but will not be limited to the corner. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told reporters on a conference call Friday that club is considering using Rodriguez at first base.
“Joe Girardi talked to him about getting some work at first base,” Cashman said Friday, according to the New York Post. “Until we see what he can do on a daily basis, it’s hard to assume anything.”
“It certainly would make sense for the Yankees. Not only is Rodriguez coming off a season in which he didn’t play at all, he’s 39 years old. That’s not an ideal scenario for someone to be playing a demanding position like third base.”
“I don’t think you can assume he can play third base,” Cashman added. “With his age and missing a full year and how it affected Derek (Jeter) and Mark Teixeira. … In the chair I sit in, it’s safer to assume this is something he might not be able to do the whole year.”
Teixeira is the Yankees opening day first baseman. With Teixeira struggling to stay healthy only playing 138 games in the last two seasons that is not a sure thing.
H/T NESN